From e-mails and posts, it sounds like Secret Santa has a great many presents in transit. Yahoo! Keep posting when you receive yours! :o) Being the head Secret Santa, it seems like it's the North Pole here!!!! We've had freezing temperatures. (One night this week it got down to minus 15 degrees here. BRRRRR!) Then, a MAJOR snow storm hit us. We have 3 feet of snow on our deck now...most of which came non-stop yesterday and last night! I just spent 3 hours plowing us out, and IT'S STILL SNOWING! It's so pretty though out here in the woods. All of the schools have been cancelled so I have the day off from teaching. It's a bummer though as we had to cancel our Christmas concert last night, and our class party is tomorrow, the last day before break. Many roads have been shut down as well. IT'S THE NORTH POLE! Ho Ho Ho! I'll attach a picture looking out our deck doors just now. I'll also attach a link to the deep snow we got in January (for those of you who didn't see my post back then) which kept us out of school for a week! Bear Hugs! Kirk Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Snow in January

Still haven't checked my email but will be checking in the next day or so. I'll reply to all emails then but since I will probably have hundreds (lol!) it may take some time to get through them all. Please be patient with me just alittle longer. I'll be sending emails to the Secret Pals who haven't sent anything. If anyone wants to sign up as a second SP (& you haven't already sent me an email) let me know. I may start a new thread with this same information but as of January 31st, here's my list of not received/received: Not Received for January 2005: Judgemarykali Kathy547 Suzydaze (didn't post rec'd/Dec) Diene (second month/nothing) Eliz33 Norma_az (didn't post rec'd/Dec) lbmoore SandysGardens CompostChick Abitodd (second month/nothing) WindsurfGirl(2nd month/nothing) KnoxvilleGirl(2nd month/nothing) Tropicalfreak Cassiet (2nd month/nothing/SP says sent, maybe wrong address?) Received for January 2005: Soaprah Ggwrn Theresan Kimskreations Everafter Sunshine123 BecksterCA Nitenut Gulliblevolunter Veeja11 Booster1 Darlene 87 GardenHits DaWiff PlantladyJan Gardnwatch Rudybacon MudPlayingFamilysMom Leann2800 If I have missed someone, or gotten you in the wrong list, please let me know!

I received a lovely package from my pal. Pal I loved the little coca cola plaque and the seeds. I so enjoy coca cola items and grin with each thing that someone finds. To answer your question. Coke items are always cool. SMILE... so are Tweety items. I collect these so I find somewhere to put them. Thank you for the very sweet notes you always include in your items, they brighten my day and make me smile. Yes, I'm doing better now. Although our spirits are battered and bruised and our family a little smaller we are adjusting. Some days are hard and some are easier. Spring has let me and my daughter get out and do things. My mother is still having a very hard time with all the deaths and that is expected, she is very ill as well and has been hospitalized a couple of times .... when she is better and her health improves both mentally and physically we will be all much better..... don't think I can deal with ANOTHER loss.... 3 has been enough... it has been a rough few months.... Thank you pal very much for asking. Cassie

Mary Ellen....have I told you lately I LOVE YOU!!!!!! i know you are generous, dear woman, but my goodness, this box was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious what a box woman. it is so over the top, so absolutely amazing and what a pleasure to open it and continue to unwrap item after item after item. it was like mary poppin's bag. what a joy!!!!!!! i just love every plant you sent me and look forward to adding so much of you to my garden beds. PLANTS: echinacea - mac and cheese oriental lily - angelique calendula - apricot daisy heuchera - mocha ppaf hosta - wheaton blue oriental lily - garden party hosta - earth angel (which is exactly what you are maryellen) gladiola bulbs - pink dreams, good news and vista canna - pretoria (i'm so thrilled to get a canna - i only grew one once before and never dug up the bulb/roots or whatever it's called). i googled this - it's gorgeous oriental lily - show winner SEEDS sweet pea thunbergea (BES vine - i never even saw these in RR boxes -- thanks) forget me nots (which i grow every year in my memory bed) as if this wasn't enough..... funny post it notes, which i'll use this week at work a mini garden stake and flag yummy goobers - which i have been snacking on while dinner is cooking a window hummingbird feeder a handpainted garden/jardin sign a tea time shadow box (DID YOU MAKE THIS??? this is wonderful) votive candle made locally in iowa (i love these, your "friend" sent me a few once upon a time) the most gorgeous porcelain domed votive holder, it's on my desk right now and it's gorgeous and brown hooks - i had to take a second look - 'splain them to me LOL and mary ellen....i absolutely adore you for sending to my sweet baby - seeing that bag brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my heart. she's already down for the night, but i'll save it for her tomorrow. i just love the miniature watering can, shovel, spade and fork set, bubbles and the cutest little bath gels in a cat and a lion package. she'll be sad she missed me open the box, so i set things aside for tomorrow. maryellen, like i said at the start - this package was over the top. it was a birthday and christmas box rolled into one. I LOVE IT ALL, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maryanne